Reading Together

This teaching reflection examines how “reading together” was fostered in synchronous and asynchronous online environments two undergraduate creative writing courses through participation a virtual book club. In the first course, prior to pandemic, students had option of meeting person or via Zoom while we read Daisy Johnson’s Oedipus Rex retelling, Everything Under, for second during written choices together Jessica Anthony’s political satire, Enter Aardvark, with author visiting sessions. both cases, goals were consistent: get reading as writers; foster intrinsic motivation personal choice; satisfy students’ desire community connection still accommodating schedules geographical location. A club lets on their own schedule space, but share experience observations peers over greater distances (and time zones) than would otherwise be possible.